The ongoing debate surrounding transgender inclusion in MMA in the sport against cisgender individuals has finally received a verdict from the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP).
In a recent consensus statement, the ARP firmly declared their non-support for transgender athlete competition against cisgender athletes in combat sports. This statement is expected to influence the positions taken by athletic commissions regulating combat sports.
Combat Sports Regulatory Lawyer, Erik Magraken, reported that the ARP’s position is based on concerns about genetic, anatomic, and physiologic differences between transgender MMA stars and cisgender competitors. They argue that such disparities create significant mismatches in competitive dynamics, leading to increased risks of serious injury for both cisgender women facing transgender women and transgender men facing cisgender men.
“Transgender women retain significant anatomic differences and proven physiologic advantages over otherwise matched cisgender women, resulting in mismatched opponents. This increases the risk of serious injury in the cisgender women. Transgender men retain significant anatomic differences and proven physiologic disadvantages compared to otherwise matched cisgender men, resulting in mismatched opponents. This increases the risk of serious injury in transgender men.”
The ARP emphasizes the importance of avoiding such bouts to ensure the safety and fairness of all athletes involved. They stress that matching transgender men with cisgender men, or transgender women with cisgender women, based on genetic, anatomic, and physiologic differences must be avoided.
“The one that drove me the craziest was the MMA fighter [Fallon Fox]. Because that person became a woman for two years, and then started competing as a woman, and not telling them, and saying that it was a medical issue. [Saying] that I don’t have to disclose a medical condition. Like, no, no, no, no, no. That’s not what that is. If that person said that they were a woman and competed against women, that’s deception. That’s a f***ing lie.”
On another note, UFC commentator Joe Rogan expressed his strong opposition to transgender MMA stars in a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. He particularly highlighted his frustration with Fallon Fox, a transgender female, for not disclosing her gender reassignment surgery and competing against cisgender women without acknowledging her physical advantages.
Rogan blasted trans inclusion in sports saying:
“You’re forced to comply with this. And, you know, it’s f**king up women’s sports in a huge way. In a huge way. And, you know, some organizations are pushing back against that. And some people are pushing back against the organizations that are pushing back against it, which to me is insane.”
“Like, if you care at all about biological women, you should be against that. ”
“Yeah, it’s okay. There’s also different specifications. It’s like what you have to do and how long you have to take hormones before you can identify as a woman and compete as a woman. Like just f**king stop. I mean, who’s going to check all that? Yeah, there’s a reason why that’s women’s sports. There’s a reason why there’s men’s sports.”
As per combatsportlaw, full statement:
